From Russia with love

Josh Veltrie ’11 worked the Olympic games in Sochi, Russia

By

David J. Pavlak

03/06/2014

Josh Veltrie ’11 was a production assistant during the Sochi games, specifically working with curling broadcasts.

Every four years, the world holds its collective breath as top athletes from around the world gather to represent their country in the Olympics. Josh Veltrie ’11, a communication major while at Rider University, took part in this global competition not once, but twice.

Veltrie, a production assistant for NBC Sports, just returned from his month-long stint in Sochi, Russia, where he was a production assistant, specifically working with curling broadcasts. He was also in London for the 2012 summer Olympics.

Below is our Q-and-A with him about his adventure.

What role did you play in covering the winter Olympics?

I helped gather footage for some of the studio segments and was also the tape assistant director for the curling coverage. As the tape A.D., I assisted the producer in getting his segments and necessary information to the control room so that the event aired without any mistakes.

What was a typical day like in Russia?

I got up around 7 a.m., took a bus to the The International Broadcast Centre, and, if there was no curling in the morning, started prepping for the show, which hit the air at noon. Once that was completed, I'd help to gather footage throughout the day.

If there was curling, my day would be a lot more hectic. Matches started at 9 a.m. and so I would work with the producer throughout the match, letting him know moment by moment the info he needed to get his segments to time. My shift would typically end around 6 p.m. and then the next crew would come in because events were constantly happening.

Were there any noticeable differences between this experience and your time in London during the summer Olympics?

I had a lot more responsibility this time around, so I enjoyed the working aspect better in Sochi. In London, our hotel was in the middle of the city, so we could go and explore anything at any time. In Sochi, we were very isolated and so it was a bit more difficult to explore because of the extreme security precautions they took.

What stands out for you most about your experience?

I attended the opening ceremony, which was easily the best part of the trip. The electricity in the stadium when Russia's Olympic team was introduced was like nothing I've ever been a part of.